Method and means for reducing the effect of electrostatic charges on paper in a copying system

ABSTRACT

The present device provides a means to remove electrostatic charges from one side of a sheet of paper and means to provide a ground plane so that the remaining charges are attracted to the ground plane which causes the sheets of paper to stack without &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;floating.



1. A device to be used with a sheet stacking means which is associatedwith a sheet transport means and wherein sheets to be stacked thereinhold electrostatic charges thereon comprising in combination: firstelectrical conducting means formed to wipe a sheet passing thereunderand disposed along said sheet transport means so as to wipe one surfaceof a sheet passing therealong; means connecting said first electricalconducting means to a first voltage potential source in order to causeelectrical current to flow in response to a sheet being wiped by saidfirst electrical conducting means; means to hold sheets at rest withinsaid stacking means, said means to hold sheets at rest being at leastpartially formed of electrical conducting material; means connectingsaid means to hold sheets at rest to a second voltage potential sourcewhereby charges are induced on said means to hold sheets at rest inresponse to the approach of a sheet which has been wiped by said firstelectrical conducting means so that the electrostatic attraction betweencharges remaining on a sheet approaching said means to hold sheets atrest and said induced charges positively urges said sheets toward saidmeans to hold sheets at rest.
 2. A device according to claim 1 whereinsaid electrical conducting means is a wire brush whose length issubstantially the width of sheet passing in contact therewith.
 3. Adevice according to claim 1 wherein said means to hold sheets is a metalplate within said stacker bin.
 4. A device according to claim 1 whereinsaid first voltage potential is ground potential.
 5. A device accordingto claim 1 wherein said second voltage potential is ground potential. 6.A method for reducing the effect of electrostatic charges on sheets ofpaper which are transported to a stacking location and stackedcomprising the steps of: a. locating an electrically conducting wipingmeans in proximity to the sheets of paper carrying electrostatic chargeson their respective surfaces; b. connecting said electrically conductingwiping means to a voltage potential source whereby electrical chargeswiped by said electrical conducting wiping means will conduct therefromand alternatively be neutralized; c. wiping said sheets of paper on oneside with said electrically conducting wiping means to cause theelectrical charges thereon to conduct therefrom and alternatively beneutralized thereby leaving the electrical charges respectively on theother surfaces of said sheets; d. locating an electrically conductingreceiving means in said stacking location; e. connecting saidelectrically conducting receiving means to a voltage potential sourcewhereby the charges on the other side of said sheets being stacked actto induce charges on said electrically conducting receiving means topositively pull said sheets toward said electrically conductingreceiving means.